While Bezikov was going to give a presentation to the command of the Front, I picked up the phone again and dialed the command of Katukov, a friendly neighbor. Hearing that it was me, Katukov immediately asked: "Leda, according to my scout report, the Germans are attacking your first line of defense and need my support?" If you need to, just speak, and I will immediately order Major General Krivoshein to send troops to his mechanized 3rd Army to support him. ”

"Thank you, Comrade General." I was very touched by Katukov's words, but I politely rejected his kindness: "The Germans only threw in a small force and launched a tentative attack on the front-line positions of our department. Even without support, our commanders and fighters can quickly repel their attacks. ”

"Since that's the case, then I won't send reinforcements for the time being." Katukov, who I refused, said carefully: "If you need artillery support, just ask, several of Krivoshein's artillery regiments can always be on readiness, ready to cover the German troops attacking your position." ”

"Understood, Comrade General." I smiled and said to Katukov: "If necessary, I will call you." ”

As soon as I put down the phone, Povsky, who was standing next to me, immediately took over the topic and asked me for instructions: "Comrade commander, we are behind the first line of defense, and we also have a cannon regiment and a battalion of Guards rocket artillery, at such a time, it is completely possible to provide artillery support for our infantry comrades, do you need to order them to open fire?" ”

"No, Comrade Colonel." I smiled and said to the war-hungry Povsky: "Now that we have figured out the intention of the German attack, it is for pre-war reconnaissance. If the artillery is ordered to open fire. will reveal their location. If you bring in German artillery fire or planes. We will suffer unnecessary losses. ”

Seeing that after listening to my words, Povsky had a gloomy expression on his face, and hurriedly comforted him and said: "Comrade Colonel, the infantry can deal with the enemy who is attacking position No. 4 now, and you are not needed for the time being. Remember, good steel has to be used on the edge of the knife in the next big battle. That's when your artillery comes into play. ”

Hearing me say this, a smile suddenly appeared on Povsky's face, and he said understandingly: "Understood, comrade commander, our artillery will be a spectator for the time being in today's battle, and when the Germans attack in a big way, we will teach him a good lesson with artillery fire." ”

While we were talking, the phone on the desk rang again. Before I could pick it up, Danilov grabbed the microphone. Sticking to his ear, he said loudly: "This is the headquarters of the army group, I am Danilov." Where are you? After listening for a while, he continued: "Comrade Commander just said that our infantry can deal with the enemy attacking Position No. 4, and we will not need you for the time being. Alright, that's it, wait for the order. With that, he hung up the phone.

From what Danilov said, I knew which unit might want to go to war again, so I asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, who is calling?" ”

"Who else could it be, Colonel Bere." Danilov habitually shrugged his shoulders as he spoke, "He said that behind the first line of defense, he deployed two tank battalions and asked me if I would let our tanks attack and teach the Germans a hard lesson. I have declined his request. ”

I nodded my head in approval of Danilov's approach, but at the same time said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, although we will not need artillery and tanks for the time being in today's battle, there are some things that I think need to be explained clearly to Colonel Bere, so as not to have bad thoughts. ”

"Bad thoughts, what bad thoughts?" Danilov did not expect me to say this suddenly, and said a little confused: "According to the regulations, the orders of the superiors can only be carried out unconditionally, and discussion and disobedience are not allowed." Even if he doesn't explain the reason, I think Colonel Berey will understand. ”

"You can't say that, Comrade Deputy Commander." I really couldn't laugh at Danilov's disapproving attitude, so I could only explain to him: "The troops below were eager to fight and took the initiative to ask the headquarters for battle, but we rejected each other without any reason. In this way, even if the commanders below don't say it, there will still be a pimple in their hearts. ”

As soon as I said this, I was afraid of hurting Danilov's pride, so I stared at him nervously, observing the change in the expression on his face. Fortunately, his expression did not change, but he frowned and thought for a moment, and then took the initiative to say: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will call Colonel Bere and explain the matter to him clearly." With that, he reached for the phone on the table.

Before the phone was answered, it occurred to me that it was not enough to explain to Bere why he did not need to attack, and I still needed to discuss with him how to use the tank army in the next battle. Then he said to Danilov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, let Colonel Bere come over, I have something to explain to him in person." ”

It just so happened that the phone was connected at this time, and Danilov, who originally wanted to explain a few words to Berey, took the opportunity to say into the microphone: "Comrade Colonel? I'm Danilov, Comrade Commander ordered you to come to the headquarters. ”

I looked up at my watch, and half an hour had passed since Nekrasov called me. As soon as I waited for Danilov to put down the phone, I immediately picked it up and connected to the headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division through the communications corps. After hearing Nekrasov's voice, I asked straight to the point: "Comrade Colonel, how is the situation at position No. 4?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Nekrasov reported with a little agitation, "the first attack of the enemy, which has already been repulsed by the defenders on heights No. 4. The enemy lost two tanks, seventy or eighty people were killed, and the rest were withdrawn to their offensive starting positions. ”

"Well done, Comrade Colonel." After complimenting Nekrasov's reported achievements, I remembered that there were many recruits on the heights, and asked: "What are the casualties of our army?" ”

"Our casualties were not large, seven were killed and a dozen wounded." Nekrasov said this. Suddenly, he said a little apologetically: "Comrade Commander." I'm sorry. Please accept my apologies! ”

I don't know why Nekrasov suddenly said this, and I asked in confusion: "Comrade Colonel, what are you sorry for me?" ”

"That's right," Nekrasov said a little embarrassed when he heard my rhetorical question: "Didn't you propose a special way of training the other day?" At that time, although I verbally agreed, I was very unimpressed, thinking that you were fooling around. If it weren't for your repeated emphasis on position four, I wouldn't have let them do this special training. Didn't expect to be in battle today. The effect of this special training was shown, and in the face of the enemy's onslaught, the recruits were able to take advantage of the battle like veterans, and achieved great results. ”

I could tell from Nekrasov's words that he was only doing the kind of special training I had proposed among the recruits of position No. 4, so I asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, if I am not mistaken, you only implemented this method of training on position No. 4 and did not promote it throughout the division at all, right?" ”

"That's right. Comrade commander, you guessed right. Nekrasov did not shy away from admitting it. Then he said to me, "But after today's battle, I have discovered the superiority of your training style. As soon as the battle is over, I will immediately promote it throughout the division. ”

"Then you have to hurry, Comrade Colonel." I said angrily: "The enemy has not much time left for you, and before it gets dark today, all the troops of your division must conduct a similar training." Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Nekrasov replied loudly.

"Continue to monitor the enemy and report to me as soon as they have any trouble." After that, I hung up the phone without waiting for him to speak.

Kirillov waited for me to put down the phone and asked with some surprise: "Lida, has the enemy in front of position number four been repulsed by our troops?" ”

I nodded and replied, "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." The enemy, who attacked position No. 4, was stubbornly resisted by our commanders and fighters, leaving behind seventy or eighty corpses and two destroyed tanks, and withdrew to their starting position in disgrace. ”

When Kirillov waited for me to finish, he couldn't help but raise his hand and look at his watch, and then said with emotion: "The commanders and fighters of the 52nd Guards Division are really good, and it only took half an hour to repel the German attack. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar," seeing that Kirillov was confident and overly optimistic, I reminded him: "It's just that the first wave of the German attack was repulsed by us." They will retreat and reorganize their troops, and they may soon launch a new attack on us. It depends on how the commanders and fighters who hold on to the fourth heights perform in the next battle. ”

After hearing my words, Kirillov couldn't help frowning, and said worriedly: "Lida, Position No. 4 will not become like the 197.5 heights north of Stalingrad, and become a battlefield where our army and the German army have repeatedly tug-of-war, right?" ”

"It's possible." I had thought about this before Kirillov said this. However, after the loss of Position 4, the fortifications on the hillside were strengthened, and tunnels were built to accommodate troops and hoard war materials. In this way, even if this position becomes the focus of contention between the enemy and the enemy, the casualties of our troops will be greatly reduced. "However, the No. 4 position has built relatively complete fortifications relying on the tunnel, and the troops we stick to it will definitely not have the situation that the 107.5 heights will be completely wiped out in one day."

As soon as I finished speaking, Bezkov walked in through the door with a telegram. I guessed that he might be holding a reply from Vatutin, so I took the initiative to ask: "Chief of Staff, how did the commander of the front reply to us?" ”

"General Vatutin ordered us to hold position No. 4 at all costs, and we must not allow it to become the starting point for the German attack." After saying that, Bezkov handed me the telegram in his hand.

I took it and looked at it, and when I saw that it was the same as what Bezikov had said, I handed it to Danilov at any time, and at the same time said to him: "Comrade Deputy Commander, it seems that the superiors also saw clearly the intention of the German army to seize the heights, so they gave us the order to hold on at all costs." ”

After reading the telegram, Danilov put the telegram on the table, looked up at me and said: "The opinion of the superiors coincides with ours, and in any case, the fourth position must be held." Comrade commander, I think it is better to prepare the artillery and tank corps for battle, so that once the enemy occupies position No. 4, we can carry out a counterattack in time. ”

In response to Danilov's concern, I smiled and said lightly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, don't worry, the Germans have limited forces to attack Heights No. 4, even if they let them fight for a day, don't think about defeating them. On the contrary, there is an important thing that must be implemented immediately. At this point, I turned to Bezikov, who was standing aside, and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, please call the commanders of the divisions immediately and ask them if they are promoting the kind of training I have proposed in the troops." Units that have not conducted live-fire training must complete their training before dark today. ”

Danilov, who listened to my order to Bezikov, said with some bewilderment: "Comrade commander, why do you want to forcibly promote this method of training at such a time? You know, before we have time to test whether this model is applicable, we rushed to promote it in all troops, and what if unnecessary casualties were caused during training? ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you may not know that the recruits on the No. 4 position have undergone special training in the past two days." In order to convince Danilov, I repeated to him what Nekrasov had just said, and finally concluded: "It is precisely because of this special training among the commanders and fighters that in today's battle, the defenders of this position, both veteran and new, have shown themselves to be brave and tenacious, otherwise they would not have repelled the enemy's attack so easily." ”

I was talking to Danilov when Nekrasov's phone came again. He hurriedly said on the phone: "Comrade commander, after a short rest, the Germans have launched another attack on position No. 4. ”

"Can you block it?" I asked briefly.

"No problem, I can definitely block it." Nekrasov replied confidently.

"Can you deal with the enemy's tanks?" Danilov asked loudly into the microphone next to him.

"Please rest assured, comrade commander and deputy commander." Nekrasov replied clearly: "The 40 rocket launchers issued to us by our superiors are just too good, and at a distance of two or three hundred meters, they can easily penetrate the frontal armor of German tanks, which is much stronger than the previous anti-tank guns and anti-tank guns." ”

Hearing Nekrasov's answer, my mood suddenly became relaxed, and I said that the 40 rocket launcher, a weapon from the future, can easily penetrate the frontal armor of the Tiger or Leopard tanks within the effective range, not to mention the German No. 3 and No. 4 tanks. (To be continued.) )